crock pot chili recipe: 2012

Today's Table

Lots of new stuff in the works here on the ole Cart For one thing, I've been designing all sorts of new quilted paintings. Or would that be painted quilts? Well, whatever you want to call them, I've got 4 of them in various states of unfinished. It's been quite a while since I've done any of these, and I'm really enjoying myself. Got a bunch of new designs for 3-D stuff too! We'll be making lots of changes in the way we make and sell stuff, starting with a much heavier emphasis on one-of-a-kind pieces. They take longer, but they are so much more creatively satisfying. And we'll be phasing out most of the limited edition pieces (although I still want to have some because lots of people like that they're able to plan ahead when it comes to purchasing a particular piece). This coming year promises to be chock full of creativity!

Christmastime

Getty Images circa 1900

From all of us here on the ole Cart,

May your Christmas be happy and bright,

and your coming year be the very best kind of interesting.

Yesterday's Table

Owls and Santas, a fox and a wolf, Raggedy twins, celestial friends, and a moose were all sharing space on my worktable yesterday. I couldn't share them with you then though, on account of my camera ran out of battery juice. So today I bravely headed off to find some new batteries amongst all the Christmas shoppers. Target is the closest battery-getting place, so I had to be very brave indeed. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Target and all, but being there on a weekend in December makes me a little itchy. But I navigated my way through all those people and secured some new batteries for my little camera. Success!

Just a head's up:

We'll only be taking new orders for hand-painted pieces until Monday, December 10.

We'll still be doing the printed ornaments and paper stuff though for a little while yet.

Then we'll be taking a break until after Christmas.

I've promised not to paint anything during my break, my hands need a bit of recovery time I'm afraid. But still, that's gonna be a hard promise to keep! I don't think I've gone more than a couple of days in a row without painting in the past 10 years. Seriously. I'm not even exaggerating.

How about you?

Is there anything you can't go a whole week without?

Oh, Christmas Tree!

So we went out and chopped down a little pine tree, shoved it into the back of our itty bitty car, dragged it into our living room, and hung an eclectic assortment of non-functional objects on it.

When I pause to think about it for a minute, it's kind of an odd tradition. I like odd.

Red Bear climbed to the top of this year's tree.

Now he's stuck up there until January.

OK, the halls are officially decked. Now bring on the eggnog!

I'll be at my worktable, making merry and such.

Happy December!

Christmas Stuff

I'm afraid I don't have anything new to show you this Sunday; I took a little time off to play with my family.

Yesterday, we busted out the boxes marked "Christmas Stuff". Hooray!

I made a special place to display my favorite kid-made ornaments. I love them so much!

The mantle was dedicated to all things Santa.

There may have been an interloper here and there.

I made these little houses 3 years ago. You can make some too.

And what Christmas village would be complete with a giant red bear?

It's a well-known fact that Little Red Riding Hoods are especially fond of Christmas.

Today we'll go chop down a tree and decorate it all up before College Girl has to go back to school this evening. Then it's back to our regularly scheduled arty shenanigans. I really like my life.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything thy goodness sends.

.............................

I've got the menu planned, it's the standard traditional fare. Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, lots of pie. My brother and sis-in-law are bringing the mashed potatoes and candied yams. My folks are bringing the drinks. College Girl will be making the deviled eggs, and Boy Kid will be making the leaves on which we'll each write three things we're thankful for. Then we'll throw those leaves in a basket. At dinner we'll pass around the basket of leaves and take turns reading the one we pick while the rest of us try to guess who wrote it.

Unlike so many Thanksgivings I have experienced in the now-distant past, there will be no raised voices. No feuds. No fists, no malice, no belittling comments. No drama. Any tears will be caused by joy, laughing too hard, or chopping onions. More than all of my many blessings, I am so grateful to be able to spend this day with my wonderful present-day family.

Whether or not you do Thanksgiving,

what three things are you grateful for today?

Another Merry Trio

Yay for white beards!

This trio of Christmas cheer, along with yesterday's trio,

will be available in the shop tomorrow.

Sunday, 5:PM Pacific Time

Pre-Sneak-Peek-Peek

I just couldn't wait til Sneak-Peek Saturday to show off this merry trio.

I was inspired by vintage Roly Poly toys like these I found over at Lapin and Me.

Aren't they cute?

I've got a trio of a different sort in the works today,

so I'll be back again tomorrow to show them off as well.

Today's Table and My Favorite Number

Truth be told, this is actually yesterday's table. Today's table is empty except for that roly poly trio up top. I'm hoping to have them all done by today's end. I've been enjoying making some completely sculpted pieces on account of Dylan has been up to his elbows making ornaments (like that forest of tree-hatted Santas) and fulfilling orders that he hasn't had time to pay attention to the new designs waiting for his magical sewing and stuffing abilities. I don't need Dylan's awesomeness to do straight-up sculpts though, thus a trio of all-clay cuties is keeping me out of trouble. I like to work in threes. It kinda drives Dylan crazy because I never just give him one new thing to make. Even if I do give him one new design, I usually want three of them so I can make variations on a theme. I guess it's my way of reigning in some of my creative impulses. If left unchecked those impulses would start way more than they would ever finish, and have me bouncing all over the place. Come to think of it, I just put together my new work schedule and I'm working in 3 blocks: 9:am-Noon, 1:00-3:00 and 6:00-9:pm. Of course, I make the schedule so I get to change it however I like.

How about you?

What does your work schedule look like?

Reminding Myself

Today's Table

Here's a little peek at today's goings-on.

I gotta make some sort of schedule today too. I'm sort of all over the place lately creatively and mood-wise, and having some sort of parameters helps me reign myself in a bit. Time management is a always a tricky balancing act when you work at home. And balance is always a worthwhile goal, don't you think?

Today's Table

One of our favorite collectors commissioned a portrait of her funny little dog, Harvey.

Here's Harvey in real life, posing with his favorite toy--

And here's Harvey a la Cart Before the Horse--

I had my doubts about incorporating that blue stuffed lamb, but ended up loving how it turned out!

Hopefully Harvey (and his person) will like it too.

Now I'm turning my attention to other things on this morning's worktable, like these roly poly starts.

Contrary to their initial appearance, they won't end up being snowmen. At least, I don't think they will. Sometimes my plans are thwarted. I may be steady and reliable, but my creations are fickle beasts.

Filling in the Bubbles

We're all bona fide here on the ole Cart now! We vote by mail here in Oregon, that's why we don't have to wait for tomorrow's official Election Day.

Not to be all bossy or anything, but please don't tell me who you voted for. Wasn't there a time in the not so distant past that people could have differing opinions on this and not get all crazy? Then again, maybe that's just selective memory on my part. Either way, that doesn't seem to be the case right now. I'm finding the political atmosphere so stressful this year! Worse than ever before. I can only imagine how much more stressful it would be if I were to subject myself to television, with its non-stop incendiary political talk and ridiculous campaign ads inundating the airwaves. I'm hoping people will simmer the heck down after Tuesday, but I kinda doubt it. I promise not to call you mean names, no matter whom you support. Hope you can do the same. I think there is way more common ground here than we are lead to believe.

Yay! Hooray! It's Finally here!

We have an extra special treat for you today, just in time for Halloween. It's the highly anticipated moment we've all been waiting for here on The Cart-- Dylan's latest project (and final video utilizing the set that takes up our entire garage) is done! So it is with much pleasure that I very proudly present (drum roll please) Paperhand Lincoln's West Coast video. . .

Stay tuned for some sort of behind-the-scenes/making-of video.

I have the coolest husband ever.

Trick-or-Treat!

I'm crossing my fingers and toes that the weather is decent this evening for all the costumed littles running around the neighborhood. Got my giant bowl of candy at the ready. This is the first place we've ever lived that we get trick-or-treaters, and I love it! We probably got a hundred last year. Unfortunately, the day is looking mighty soggy so far and the forecast is none too promising. But you never know what the weather will do around here. If I'm stuck with all this candy I might just have to be my own parade and start throwing it at passersby.

Something-New Sunday

The latest will be available this evening,

5:PM Pacific Time,

You'll have to excuse me for being so brief. It's been crazy busy around here.

Today's Table

Some snapshots from this morning's worktable, random acts of cuteness a la Cart. Slowly but surely checking things of my list. And adding new stuff too. The first of this year's Santas is almost done. I know, I know, it's not even Halloween yet. But the big guy was not to be denied. Wouldn't want to end up on the Naughty list.

Owl Lover 2013 Calendar

Shivani over at My Owl Barn has put together a cool project for you to play with. It's a free print-your-own calendar, and over 40 artists have contributed owl-themed work. You get to pick your favorites and print out a little calendar. Or make lots of little calendars. You could also make them into owlicious cards or gift tags, circling the date of the gifting occasion. Lots of possibilities! And bonus, My Owl Barn is hosting a giveaway to celebrate the completion of this project!

These are the 12 that I picked for my own calendar.

(Yes, I included my own. Is that lame?)

You can get your own calendar here.

Not-Quite-Something-New-Yet Sunday

I hoped to have all sorts of new stuff to show you today, but reality had other plans. When it comes to finding that elusive balance between home and work, some weeks are more challenging than others. In between life stuff and filling orders, I did manage to cross a few things off my To-Do list though. And I really like crossing things off of lists. And making lists. And abandoning lists altogether and going off on some new and exciting tangent entirely, for that matter. Anyway, instead of Something-New to show, here are a bunch of snapshots from this morning's worktable.

Hopefully by this time next week I'll have lots of new goodies in a more done state.

But if not, I'll have fun trying.